Secure freedom for Sunder, an abused elephant, and send him to a sanctuary

Former Beatle Paul McCartney has sent an urgent letter to Maharashtra Forest Minister, Dr Patangrao Kadam urging him to use his power to immediately rescue a young elephant, named Sunder who is being kept in chains and has been beaten at Jyotiba Temple in the Kolhapur district of Maharashtra.

"I have seen photographs of young Sunder, the elephant kept alone in a shed at Jyotiba Temple and put in chains with spikes", wrote McCartney. "Years of his life have been ruined by keeping him and abusing him in this way and enough is enough. I most respectfully call on you to get Sunder out."

McCartney's plea follows PETA India's discovery that Sunder was being abused by his mahout (or handler). Sunder sustained a severe injury to his right eye from being jabbed in it with a bullhook (a sharp, hooked metal poker-like weapon) by the mahout. The elephant is also confined to chains with sharp spikes and is kept alone inside a dark shed, in which he cannot take even a single step forward or backward. Sunder is denied all that is natural and important to him and lives in fear. There are lesions all over his body, indicating past beatings by the mahout.

This petition was delivered to:

Maharashtra Forest MinisterDr Patangrao Kadam

Maharashtra Forest MinisterDr Patangrao Kadam

Letter to

Maharashtra Forest MinisterDr Patangrao Kadam

Maharashtra Forest MinisterDr Patangrao Kadam

I just signed the following petition addressed to: Dr Patangrao Kadam, Maharashtra Forest Minister.

----------------Secure freedom for Sunder, an abused elephant, and send him to a sanctuary

I am shocked to learn about the agony endured by Sunder, a young elephant enslaved in chains at Jyotiba Temple in the Kolhapur district and am joining Sir Paul McCartney and PETA India in urging you to use your power to immediately rescue him.

Sunder suffers from wounds all over his body due to abuse, including a severe injury to his eye. He is not given adequate food or water and is deprived of access to the outdoors, exercise and everything else that is natural to him.

Elephants are smart, social animals who would naturally roam freely. To keep him chained up is cruel enough, but to subject him to neglect and violent abuse is inexcusable.

You have the power to help elephants in Maharashtra. I respectfully request that you immediately rescue Sunder and relocate him to a sanctuary.----------------